Heraldry - Tinctures
he minimum requirement of a coat of arms
is the field otherwise described as the background colour of
the shield. Tinctures in heraldry are the names given to the colours that
are used on the shields or flags.
There are six main colours: yellow, white, black, red, blue and green. These are
also known as or, argent, sable,
gules, azure and vert respectively. These colours are shown below plus some
colours that was less commonly used. When means of
colouring is not available a system of patterns allows the tinctures to be
depicted without the use of the real colours.
The patterns are shown alongside the real colours below.
One of the rules of heraldry is that gold or silver must appear on the shield. These colours are known as the metals and are represented by the colours yellow and white. The metals are then used alternately with the other colours. The order of most frequently used colours is red, blue, black and green.
An ordinary colour can be used for the ground (background) of the shield, but when that occurs some other part of the shield should be displayed using one or more of the metals.
Main Colours
Gules (red)
Planet: Mars
Stone: Ruby
Parallel vertical lines
(pale)
Symbolism:
Bravery, courage and military strength.
Represents: Fire.
Gules doth stand for valour and strength of arms. This noble hue is eke bound unto the planet Mars and the gem known as ruby. Oft doth gules beareth the meaning of fire.
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Azure (blue)
Planet: Jupiter
Stone: Sapphire
Parallel horizontal
lines (fess)
Symbolism:
Loyalty and truth. Also justice and goodness. Calmness.
Represents: Sky.
"Azure 'tis the colour of loyalty and truth. Whosoever beareth azure upon his shield or surcoat declareth his heart to be steadfast, his tongue honest, and his cause just. They say 'tis the very dye of the sky above. In olden lore, 'tis tied to mighty Jupiter, lord of judgment and wise rule, and to the sapphire stone, what grants clear thought and calm temper.
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Sable (black)
Planet: Saturn
Stone: Diamond
Lines crossing each
other (fess and pale)
Symbolism:
Wisdom as well as grief and mourning.
Represents: Night sky.
"Sable, the black hue. A solemn colour, and one not worn lightly. In the tongues of heralds and the rites of mourning, sable is the mark of sorrow, grief borne not with weepin', but with silence and weight. When a knight loseth kin, or a house falleth to ruin, 'tis sable they stitch upon their banners. Sable is not but for mournin'. Nay, it is the colour of wisdom hard-won, of dignity forged through trial. The elder sages wear sable not for sadness, but for knowing. 'Tis the night sky afore dawn, the ink wherein truths are writ.
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Vert (green)
Planet: Venus
Stone: Emerald
Diagonal lines top left
to bottom right (Dexter chief to sinister base)
Symbolism:
Hope, fertility, freedom.
Represents: Nature.
"Vert: the green of leaf and life. 'Tis the hue of the wild world — of forests deep, of meadows wide, of things that grow and breathe under sun and rain. It is the colour of hope — of hearts that still dream, even in dark days. In love, it showeth loyalty, the kind that rooteth deep and holdeth fast. When a child is born, or a crop riseth fair in spring, the wise say vert smiles upon it. It is youth and renewal.
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Purpure (purple)
Planet: Mercury
Stone: Amethyst
Diagonal lines top
right to bottom left (Sinister chief to dexter base)
Symbolism:
Nobility, power and ambition.
"Purpure: a hue not oft seen except upon the backs of queens, prelates, and those born to command. A rare tincture it be, rich as dusk and deep as old wine. In the tongues of heralds, purpure speaketh of majesty, sovereignty, and that quiet nobility of spirit not won by blade, but by bearing. 'Tis the colour of those who rule wisely, who speak little yet are heeded much. Yet purpure also marketh penitence and mystic thought — a hue oft worn by the high clergy, or them that walk the path betwixt earth and aether.
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The Metals
Or
Gold / yellow
Planet: Sun
Stone: Topaz
"Or, the gleaming gold, cousin to argent among the metals of heraldry. A hue most bright and bold, it speaketh of high nobility and splendor befitting kings and princes. To bear or upon thy arms is to claim wisdom earned through rule and right, a crown not lightly worn but held with steady hand. Yet mark this well: or is also the sign of wealth and power, the shining coin and the gilded throne. Many a lord doth prize it, for it giveth presence and command alike. In truth, or is the light of day itself — radiant, unyielding, and ever a symbol of exalted station.
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Argent
Silver / White
Planet: Moon
Stone: Pearls
"Argent, the shining metal, bright as the moon's own light. 'Tis the fairest of metals in the herald's craft, a sign of purity and truth. When a shield is argent, it speaketh of innocence, sincerity, and a heart unblemished by guile. Many a noble soul bears argent in their arms to show they stand for justice and honour, unsullied by shadow. It call'th to mind the wisdom of ages, the mercy of the just, and the hope of new beginnings. To bear argent is to swear to live with clean hands and open eyes — to fight not for greed, but for right.
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Less Common Colours
Tenné
Light brown / Leather
"Tenne, a rare and earthy hue. 'Tis the colour of ripe autumn leaves and sunbaked clay. Not oft seen upon the banners of lords, but when it is, it speaketh of steadfastness and toil. Tenne standeth for endurance, the patient strength of those who till the soil and guard the wild borders. It is the hue of the hunter and the craftsman, those who know the land and bend it to their will. Though humble, tenne beareth dignity; it speaketh of a heart that is neither hasty nor proud, but wise in patience and loyalty. In the quiet earth lies the promise of growth, and in tenne, that promise is writ plain.
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Murrey
Redish brown
"Murrey, a colour born of twilight's deepest hour, rich and heavy as the blood of ancient kings. Not oft worn, but when it graces a shield or surcoat, it speaketh of steadfastness, nobility, and secret strength. Murrey is the hue of patience in hardship, the slow-burning fire of resolve that doth not waver. It holdeth a dignity all its own, mingled with the passions of love and the weight of sorrow. This tincture is oft favored by those who walk the shadowed paths; scholars, mystics, and lords who bear their burdens with quiet grace. To bear murrey is to carry the legacy of ages past and the hopes of those yet to come, wrapped in a cloak of solemn majesty.
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Sanguine
Blood red
"Sanguine, the colour of fresh blood and fierce resolve. 'Tis no hue for the faint of heart. When a knight or warrior bears sanguine upon his banner or surcoat, it proclaims his readiness to shed blood for honour and cause. Yet sanguine is more than mere wrath; it standeth for courage born of fire, a heart steadfast in the face of death. It is the colour of sacrifice, passion, and the unyielding will to endure. Those who take up sanguine know well the cost of battle, but wear it with pride, for in that crimson lies the very essence of life and the price of victory.
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Furs
Ermine is a fur, a type of tincture, made up of a white background with a pattern of black shapes representing the winter coat of the ermine (a species of weasel with white fur and a black-tipped tail). It has several variations shown below.
Ermine
A white backgound with sable (black) ermine tails.
Symbolism:
Purity and honour. Used by royalty and nobility.
Ermines
Reverse of ermine. Sable field with white ermine tails.
Erminois
An or (yellow) field with sable (black) ermine tails.
Pean
A sable (black) field with or (yellow) ermine tails.
The term vair, or variegated, comes from the squirrel fur which was used commonly in the Middle Ages. The greyish-blue fur from the backs of squirrels was sewn together with pieces of the animals' white underbellies.
Vair
A patchwork of argent (white) and azure (blue).
Counter Vair
...
Chequy
Argent (white) and azure (blue) squares.
Glossary
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